Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK VII CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER IV

How Beaumains departed, and how he gat of Sir Kay a
spear and a shield, and how he jousted with Sir Launcelot.

BUT there went many after to behold how well he was horsed and
trapped in cloth of gold, but he had neither shield nor spear. 
Then Sir Kay said all open in the hall, I will ride after my boy
in the kitchen, to wit whether he will know me for his better. 
Said Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine, Yet abide at home.  So Sir
Kay made him ready and took his horse and his spear, and rode
after him.  And right as Beaumains overtook the damosel, right so
came Sir Kay and said, Beaumains, what, sir, know ye not me? 
Then he turned his horse, and knew it was Sir Kay, that had done
him all the despite as ye have heard afore.  Yea, said Beaumains,
I know you for an ungentle knight of the court, and therefore
beware of me.  Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in the rest, and
ran straight upon him; and Beaumains came as fast upon him with
his sword in his hand, and so he put away his spear with his
sword, and with a foin thrust him through the side, that Sir Kay
fell down as he had been dead; and he alighted down and took Sir
Kay's shield and his spear, and stert upon his own horse and rode
his way.

All that saw Sir Launcelot, and so did the damosel.  And then he
bade his dwarf stert upon Sir Kay's horse, and so he did.  By
that Sir Launcelot was come, then he proffered Sir Launcelot to
joust; and either made them ready, and they came together so
fiercely that either bare down other to the earth, and sore were
they bruised.  Then Sir Launcelot arose and helped him from his
horse.  And then Beaumains threw his shield from him, and
proffered to fight with Sir Launcelot on foot; and so they rushed
together like boars, tracing, rasing, and foining to the
mountenance of an hour; and Sir Launcelot felt him <215>so big
that he marvelled of his strength, for he fought more liker a
giant than a knight, and that his fighting was durable and
passing perilous.  For Sir Launcelot had so much ado with him
that he dreaded himself to be shamed, and said, Beaumains, fight
not so sore, your quarrel and mine is not so great but we may
leave off.  Truly that is truth, said Beaumains, but it doth me
good to feel your might, and yet, my lord, I showed not the
utterance.